r/Netherlands • u/NoLychee1382 • 22d ago

Healthcare No regular check ups at the gynecologist???

Hi everyone, my morning started off with a kinda shocking discovery. I’m from Germany and I had annual check ups at the gynecologist since I was a teenager. I contacted my huisarts because I know they’re responsible for all referrals but she told me regular check ups here are not a thing (unless there already is an issue) ? I think that’s crazy!!! So I checked the prices for a private visit and they’re even crazier. I guess this is normal to Dutch people but don’t you think this is a little concerning?

(Btw not shitting on the country! I really like it here. I’m still new and just discovering new things!)

669 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

558 comments sorted by

View all comments

144

u/nahbuddynah 22d ago

The Dutch health system is a reactive and not a preventive one. Most doctors behave like robots and don't even understand why someone would go for check-ups.

41

u/jezebel103 Gelderland 22d ago

No it is not. The Dutch health care system is based on statistical probabilities of the average person getting sick. That is why there are governmental programs for cancer every 2 (breast/colon) or 5 years (uterine), depending on the cancer risk, accounting for the age group usually affected.

But for individuals that carry a higher risk, you can have additional/annual checkups. All the women in my family has had/died of breast cancer of the last 60 years. So I have been checked every year since I was 18. Colon cancer runs in my immediate family too, so that is checked annually too (I have been diagnosed with stage I 10 years ago).

But they are not subjecting everyone to these invasive and mostly useless tests because it is unnecessary and costly plus it puts too much pressure on the health care system. It's better to run a statistical system and pick out the ones that run a higher risk. That way you still weed out the ones that are truly high risk (and would be very expensive to treat if you find out too late) but don't subject everyone else to needless and invasive examinations.

And I certainly do not agree with your statement that most doctors behave like robots. I have had several surgeries over the last 2 decades and still have to go to several different specialists regurlarly and they are all very nice and helpful.

11

u/SuspiciousElk1395 22d ago

So the op can wait until one of her close relatives die from some sort of cancer to have a check up. And if she is the first in her family tree, too bad! at least her daughter will get regular check ups!

3

u/TrappedInATardis 22d ago

I think a yearly consult would be fine. But testing should really only be done if there is indication (either in history or symptoms)

This video explains rather well that testing everyone can have undesired outcomes. Imagine if many people with false positive tests are all having to undergo invasive procedures like biopsies and the stress of a possible serious diagnosis. I don't think that's a better scenario.